Hopper car construction



Feb. 13, 1940.

. K. F, N'YST-ROM HOPPER CAR co'NsTRUCTIoN Filed April 1e, 195s 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Peb. 13, 1940.

K. F. NYsTRoM HOPPER CAR CONSTRUCTION Fild Aprill 1s, 193s 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l Feb. 13, 1940. K. F. NYsTRoM HOPER CAR CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April y16, 1938- ufo UNITE-D"STATES PATENT- omc-sf 2,190,333 -norrnn CAR CONSTRUCTION v*Karl F; Nystrom, Milwaukee, Wis. A Application April 1s, 193s, seria1No. 202,492.

k 1o claims. c1.1o52 4v)1 formed in the previously constructed cars; the

respective elements or units 'being formed to permit the unitsto be readily secured together into a unitary structure.

The inventionalso has forv its -objectfthe provision of a' construction wherein the relation betweenthe hopper forming' units and thefcar sills is" such-that "air circulatingjpassages between these units and the car sillsare provided extending full length of thec'arsso that accumulation 'of moisture is'prevented and the corrosive action heretofore encountered will be' obvia-ted.

VV,"Ihe invention also contemplates a'structurevwherein the hopper side wallsfrnay` b'e directly connected above the'c'ar sills' and the side Walls of thehoppers on opposite sides yof the center ysill connected `togetherinto ia-center. sill ridge forming portion.v The enumerated objects and others, as well as advantages -v inherentv in the 'f invention, Vwill be readily comprehended fro in 'the detailed description of the drawings, wherein- Figure l' is a plan viewgof the crown portion of 1' the hopper' car with my improvement.

Figure 2.1s` a sectional elevation as viewed 'along theline 2.-2 of Figurel.. f I

Figure 3 is ajperspective View of onefof` the crown sheet supporting and attaching castings or units..v l 4 f Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view through .the hopper portionof thecarinvolving myhinven- 'l1i0n .fi l l.:

f Figure 5 isla perspective lviev'v of one ofthe -brackets or elements-employed at the car side wall adjacent the cross-ridge end of the l'iopper portion. l

Figure 6 isa similar `view ofthe other bracket lor element'employed at the car, 4side :wall l,adja-l cent the slope-sheet end of the' hopper'portion'.v

Figure 'Tis a sectional elevation of'theupper part of the hopper side wall and aportion ofthe l Car side wall and embodying my invention.` v FigureS is a' sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 7, as Viewed by the arrows. Figure 9 is a transverse sectional view of the upper part of the hopperportion of the carillustrating a modication. f L My invention contemplates the use of preformed elements preferably formed to eliminate theuse of. rivets and adapted more especially to i be welded together during installation inthe hopper openings of the car, with the adjacent surfaces "formed to providel more or lesselastic connections between the elements to compensate for. certain Variations `in dimensions, thusv enabling easier. installation and the provision of a better construction.

As my invention relates to elements employed.

at thefupperends olf-the. hopper portions of'the particularlyto the relation between the hopper side walls and the car. sills and specific detailed dumping end of the bucket or hopperlwill not be entered into. j

My improved structure is intended for use ina Standard hopper car and especially to a structure vwherein the hopper is.` composed offsep'arately formed units and the hopper side walls comprisingprecast units adapted to resist corrosion and which lend themselves readily to `welding'operadescription ofthe car proper and of the lower or v tions. Referring to the drawings, the upper portions of theinner oricenter 'sill'side walls vof ak upper endv ofthe hopper inner side wallgZ 4is formed .so it may' bewelded orotherwise secured adjacent the top of thecenter sill (see Figureffl)` Iand also permit welding tothe ridge cap members or castings 22. I employ a'pair of these members 22 at each endof'the ridge;` both' members '2-2 beingr ofiv similar construction,` a detail-"view of sainev being shown in Figure. These members I 45 preferably consist of cast metalv with the main portion which extends longitudinally of thejcencalled the outer v'ends in the'wingfportions 24, v24,

united at top by the vupwardly sloping flange 25;

while the lower'side ofthe casting is provided ter sill made with thebp'p'ositely"sloping'shedding `walls 23,'23 and terminatingy at .what may be `with the transversely disposedlbridge forming'vrib i imore clearly shown at tlieleft i-n Figllegflg,

car, the illustrations and description have been;.2,0 'confined to the hopper portion of the car and hopper are shown at 20,20, arranged on opposite 2:35

sides of the center sill 2l shown in Figure 4; The

sides of the center sill) slope upwardly and pro `vide meansy for integrally connecting the slope sheets and transverse ridge forming sheets or members thereto, `while the loweredges of the integrally secured. thereto. -T`nese members .22 also provide means of attachment for the ends of the crown sheet 2? as shown at il@ in Figure l. The crown sheet 2l', like the members 22 is, of course, ymade with oppositely sloping walls to provide a proper shedding surface. With this construction the inner side walls of the hoppers on opposite sides of the center sill are lintimately connected together and an uninterrupted juncture provided against-the accumulation of particles and moisture. t

The outer side wall 2li of the hopper (which is also a precast unit) is usually secured to the bottom leg or side of the angle beam or car side sill 36, as shown in Figure 4.; .this connection being generally made by riveting the hopper. wall lto the side sill as shown. y

With this manner of formationaas heretofore employed, the side silly provided an -undesirable ledge for the accumulation of material and moisture, and consequently early corrosion of the side sill and adjacent parts resulted.

My invention contemplates the provision `oi a self cleaning and shedding structure consisting of a'pair of bracket members or castings,v 3l, 32, adapted to b-e employed at opposite ends of the 'bucket portion orv hopper proper which provide suitable means of connection between the hopper outer side wall, the slope sheet and the car side Wall and also providem'eans for suitably supporting and attaching a sheddingor filler plate; all of which Aare preferably integrally united with each other by welding.

'The' member 3l is intended to be used'at the slope sheet-side or end of the hopper and is formed 'with an outwardly sloping main wall 31a terminating at top in aA vertically disposed ange portion 33 which is adapted to extend substantially l parallel with the car side wall 35i; while Vthelower perimeter of the member is intended to be disposed -atthe inner longitudinal edge of the side Sill r3U.'

The ymain bodyia is cast with 4a numberof `recessed portions as at 35, 35, `Eli; therecess 35 being formed to have a horizontal bottom adapted to rest on the inwardly disposed side `of the side sill .30 -as lshown in Figure 4, and this vhorizontal bottom is provided with a hole 3-7 to permit the member 3l Lto' be secured to thehorizontal inwardly disposed iside .of the car side sill 35i, as for e to example by a :plug weld as :at 38 in Figure vli.. l

' "The recesses 3S, 36 inv member 3l are Vformed with vertically disposed walls having holes,v as at v39; the vertical'wall portions of the recesses being fintended'torexten'd flush Lwith the upstanding side of the side 'sill 30 as shown to ythe rightrin Figure VLl, andthe holes 39 being provided-.to enablethe member or casting 3i `to be plug welded to the side sill as :shown at lil in Figure 4. y

'The casting 3l, at a suitable point, as for example intermediateof the recesses 3h36, is shown "3l vrests against the' car side-wall 34 and is preferably welded to the car wall full length of the ange as shownat t5 in Figure 8; while the bot-:

torn ofthe car side Wallis also weldedto thelside sill 3E) as indicated atfl in Figure r8, th'usprof viding an-in'tegral connection between the car side wall, casting and side sill, asv well, as) an integral connection between the side sill. f

castingl and 'thev i The tapered end of the casting 3| is shown provided with Gif-set portions orianges All', l8,`to

afford means for providing lapping connections.

witlri'the slopesheet' and'with thehopper bottom;`

the ilanges `All, 13S being formed `to accommodate themselvesy to .the usual formation .of the elements mentioned'and provide support for, those I elements and tol permit the latter to "be welded to the casting3-I. f

The opposite end of castingi is providedwith an offset flange Aiii for the purpose of receiving"v one end of a filler sheetk or plate 5E which isfin'- tended to 'be welded to casting 35i the flange being arranged with the saine inclination'or slope n as the casting 3 I.

' At the ycross ridge endfofzk the hopperyl employ."

member or casting' 32, ywhose main wall ljalsom slopes outwardly toward the top `whereitytere minates inthe vertically disposed flange tk which is to be arranged flush with the car side wall 34 and to be welded thereto throughout the top .of

the casting, similar'to that ofcasting 3l and as f5? shown at45 in Figure 8.

This member or castings 32- at .one endhas o-set upwardly sloping flange ildto-receive'and support the adjacent end Lof the ller sheet'or.,

plate 52` as shownl inFigure Thisr same endl` of the member or `casting is cast with the vertical rib 55 which terminates at topin'the horizontally j; l extending arm;5i6 for supporting.theadjacentzsidcf wall stake, which may be welded-theretolff The'mainportion 32a ofthe casting adjaoent'thev top and bottom is provided with recessesA V5l, 215B;

the inner lwall of .recess -l'lbeing vertically dis.r i'

.wall Yprovided'Y with ahole to permit the lcasting 32H portions 59, B0 andtl; y i

The flange portion 59 isintended to receivethe y y adjacent edge of the Vhingelcvutt plate, a portion n whereof is shown yat te in vFigure "1 and l.pernriits the latter to be welded to the oasting'tf.A l The flange portion l(ill is preferably. oifset ilpwantlly'v and is provided withtheoffsetange yportion-f5l f .intended` to receive the end ofthe cross ridge i sheet 5B of the car.;l theysheet abuttingagainst the flange portion Gil, to which it may be'welded;

As lthe ilanges 5I and 5d of members" or castings 3l and 32 are arranged at aninc-li'nation, the lll ,erplate 52 will likewise be heldl at an inclination,

with the lower edgeolI [the plate arranged ladjacent theV outer sidewall Etof' thehopper and t thisedge of the plate is preferablyweldedtothey hopper side wall; while the,upperlongitudinalv edge-of the plate visivelded to thecarside' wallso i as toprovide an. intimate shedding relation lbe? tweenthe. plate and side wall; the plate 52 interto be plug welded to Athe'side'silly asshown at 38v in Figure 4; in afmannerjsimilar to castingfl. y

The other or taperingfendof casting '32` is? shown.: vformed with `the 'inwardlyl extending ilangesz-orv mediate of its ends being bent or provided with the offsetportion 66 to receive the side wall stake i3 v(see 'Figure 7) to permitthe latter to bewelded y thereto.' I i. j

ff n With this'y construction la lgreatlyi reenforcd and integrallyconnected structureY is produced with, shedding surfaces; a structure which also lends itself to variations in the hopper receiving opening in the car vas a result of the lapping connectionsbetween the respective elements. y

'l In Figure 9'I disclose a `modication wherein l the hopper'side wall members or vunits Gland 68 are of greater vertical dimensions in order that `they may overlap orextend above the respective sill members.

'I'he hopper outer wall 61, where it contacts the lower side of the side sill 30-,is made to slope welded rto the car side wall. The sloping portion 69 overlaps and covers" the'side sill and provides 4a shedding surface and at the same time produces an air circulating space between the hopl per side wall and the side sill, similar to that produced by the castings 3l," 32 and the filler plate 52.

The inner side wall 68 of the hopper adjacent the lower flange of the center sill member 2| slopes upwardly at 1| and thence in an inclining i' manner across theftop oi" the center sill and terminates ina vertical angeportion 12, which is disposed substantially at the longitudinal median line of thefcenter sill, where ity is arranged in "side to side relation with the angeportion 12 affected by moisture and corrosive action as is the case with rolled steel; and my invention provides hopper portions composed of separate elements affording considerable elasticity in the adaptation to a carv and which are all intimately united into van integral unit.

The exemplifications` of the invention are believed to be the best embodiments which have been described lin terms employed for the purpose of description `and, not as terms of limitation as lstructural modiiications are possible and may be' made without, however,r departing from the spirit ofl the invention as defined in the appended claims'. v

What I claim is:

y1.` A hopper car construction comprising a plurality of preformed members adapted to constitute the side wallsI of the hopper portion, anchoring members and fill sheets, certain of the anchoring members being adapted to slope upwardlyy from the base of the car side sill to the top thereof, `withthe upper ends secured to the car side wall while the lower end is secured to the baseof the side sill, said members being provided with'a side stake supporting and attaching portion; 'other members arranged in straddling relation with the car center sill and secured to the adjacent side walls ofthe hoppers on opposite sidesy ofthe centersill; a ll sheet disposed between the .members on the car side sill and slop- "ing toward the car side wall and united therewith, the ends of-said ll sheet being integrally united to said first mentioned members; and a crown sheet disposed across the center sill memwalls,y anchoring and bridgingrmembers, and fill plates; `certain of said members bridging the angle of the car side sills and disposed thereabove in longitudinal spaced relation and integrally sefbers, 'the ends of 'sad'crown sheet integrally. sel cured to the last mentioned members.

2. A hopper car construction comprising cast metal' units 4constituting hopper portion side cured to the car side walls and to the car stakes, while the other members bridge the tops Aof thefilo car center sill` and are longitudinally spaced apart;l the fill-plates being arranged between the respectively spaced members and their ends securedthereto; the members being, respectively,

intimately secured to the side sills andl to the'15 center sill and to the adjacent hopper side wall units by welding.

3.1m a hopper car construction, anchoring members ,arranged at opposite sides and ends ofl the hopper portion of the car so as to slopingly overlap the car side sills and the car center sill; and ll plates intermediate of the respective anchoring members with their ends integrally connectedtheretov and'adapted to provide shedding surfaces with air circulating passages between; the side sills, the center sill and the liill plates.

4. A hopper car construction comprising cast metal elements, certain of the elements being integrally united with the car side sill and car side vwall to provide a shedding surface across?" the side sill with an air space therebeneath, while the other -members are united across the top of the car center sill into a shedding ridge with an n air space therebeneath.

5. A vhopper car construction comprising, in?- combination with the side walls of the hopper,

` precast anchoring members formed with sloping faces, one pair of said members being .disposed at each end of the hopper portion and adapted to bridge the innerangle of the car side sill and bel secured thereto, while the other pair of said. members are disposed at each end of the hopper portionin bridging relation with the car center sill, all of said members being formed with attaching iianges to provide lapping joints with y adjacent elements of the car; a slope plate dis'- posed` between the first mentioned pair and intimately secured thereto and to the car side wall; anda crown plate disposed across the center sill between the second mentioned pairof members, with itsends intimately secured to said members; the rst vmentioned pair of members having side wall stake supporting and attaching ledges.

6. Inv a hopper car construction, preformed anchoring members having upwardly sloping faces and adapted to be secured on the inner angle of the car side sill, each of said members tapering upwardly at one of the ends and provided with flange portions adapted to effect lappin-g connection with the slope sheet and hopper (so bottom and with the hinge-butt rail and ridge sheet; each of said members being provided with recesses having apertured surfaces adapted to contact the vertically and horizontally disposed sides of the car side sill to permit said members o to be welded to the side sill; while the top perimeters of said members are disposed vertically to' extend flush with the car side wall and be i secured thereto.

7. In a hopper oar construction', pre-cast an 70 choring members for the adjacent elements of the car, certain ofthe members being adapted for anchoring the outer side walls of the hopper portion of the car, while the other members are adapted for anchoring the inner side walls of the hopper portion -of 'the car; the first mentioned members being made with sloping faces provided with inset surfaces to contactr the vertical and horizontal sides of the car side Asill angle, said sur-faces being formed with plug weld receiving holes whereby said members may be integrally lunited to the/side sill in sloping relation vtherewith, `the upper longitudinal perimetersof said members being vertically disposed and arranged parallel with the car side wall and intimately secured thereto; the second mentioned members being formed with oppositely sloping surfaces and a transverse rib extending from. side to side adapted to rest on and to bridge the car center sill with the marginal edges of the inner side wallsof the hoppersron opposite sides of the center sill secured thereto and having extensions for securing the slope and ridge sheets of the .car thereto.

,8. In a hopper' car construction, pre-cast single piece members formed with sloping surfaces .adapted .to extend from the hopper outer wall .to the car side walls, terminating at top in vertically disposed portionsV for lapping the car side walls .and to be secured thereto, said members being formed -with rearwardly disposed apertured recessed .portions Vadapted to contact the horizontal and vertical sides ofy the car side sills and to be integrally united therewith, said members being provided with side stake supporting and attaching extensions.

9. .In a hopper car construction, Aa pair of .precasty single piece members arranged in longitudinal spaced relation and formed with .sloping sur-faces adapted to extend from the hopper ,outer walls to the car rside walls, the Vtops of said member-s beine Aprovided with vertically disposed portions for `lappi-ngthe :car side `walls and to be secured thereto, said members being formed Vwith,

ing and attaching extensions and having offset flanges at one of their ends; land Ia sloping ll sheet arranged between lsaid spacedl membersfgtlo with its ends intimately secured to said oiset flanges. f

10.1In a hopper car construction, a precastv 'l single piece ridge cap member, adapted to be disposed on the center sills of the can tapering?, toward one end Aand having downwardly and .outwardly sloping uninterrupted top surfaces yon opposite sides of the longitudinal median line, each sloping surface kat its lower `marginal edge havinga vertically disposed portion adapted top20 f be integrally connectediwith the inner side wall of the hopper on the adjacent yside Aof the rcar center sill, the sloping surfaces of the member l adjacent the tapered end having laterally dis-r posed and upwardly sloping Wings'for attachingg25M the ycar slope sheets thereto, while the sloping' surfaces at the other endof the member are provided with a downwardly offset marginal portion to permit A,over-lapping.attachment of a crown sheet thereto; `the lower sides of the slopingqg()` surfaces beingv connected by .a' transverse ri-b formed to support the Ymember on vthe car center sill and to permit air circulation between .the

member andthe center sills.

KARL.v lF. NYsTRon/i. 

